21st Century Learning






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PLRD has a dedicated team of colony teachers led by Principal Sharon Kirby, and Christel Smith, AISI Lead Teacher, who have undertaken the enormous task of creating curriculum driven, multi-grade integrated projects for their students. Since September 2009, teachers have met once a month to review nine grades of Alberta learning objectives and outcomes highlighted key concepts and woven them into projects that breathed life and energy into what can sometimes be disconnected from real life learning.

Dr. Wes Neumeier, PLRDs Superintendent of Schools, was unwavering in his belief that everyone participate in the discussion and professional development around 21st century learning. A common but mistaken assumption is that technology must be involved to teach and engage students in 2010, but colony teachers have little or restricted access to the Internet or computers during the school day. Their task is difficult as they teach kindergarten to Grade 9 with no digital resources at their fingertips. What they lack in digital resources, theyve made up for in creativity as each group of teachers have worked to create curriculum relevant, Hutterite respectful, projects. Imagine having all your students design, plan and then build miniature models of exemplary 21st century playgrounds, classrooms, homes and colonies with an emphasis on environment and sustainability for a long, healthy future. to live, work and play in. In this project, math, language arts, science and social studies are integrated so students learn key concepts while engaged in a topic that interests them.

This year, colony teachers will begin implementing their new units which could take up to a month to finish. The professional development will continue with teachers reviewing assessment practices, instructional strategies to refine the new projects which enhance, inform and engage their 21st century learners.


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